By Erik Gudris | Thursday, August 7, 2014

 

Venus Williams joined her sister in the Montreal quarters after winning a high quality three set battle over Angelique Kerber.

Photo Credit: Getty

For Venus Williams, Montreal was worth the wait.

That's referring to the 7-time Grand Slam champion having never won a match in the Canadian city until this week at the Rogers Cup. Yet Williams saved her best performance so far in a thrilling third round battle versus No. 6 seed Angelique Kerber of Germany.

ATP: Tsonga Topples Djokovic in Toronto.

Even when Williams seized an early 5-0 lead in the opening set, the expectation for a long battle loomed. Williams soon closed out the set 6-3.

Kerber, who beat Williams in their last three meetings since 2012, rallied in the second set. Kerber took advantage of Williams only serving at 44% first serves. The German capitalized and took the set 6-3 to force a decider.

Williams, who fell behind an early break in the third set, fought back for 2-all. The shotmaking level increased from both women as they connected on winner after winner. Williams claimed a 5-3 lead and served for the match.

Though holding a match point, Williams netted a forehand sending things back to deuce. More errors from Williams on her forehand would hand the break back to Kerber for 5-4.

Williams raised her level yet again including. after a long baseline rally, hitting a lunging volley winner keeping her in the game. Kerber later double faulted giving Williams another match point. Williams missed out on that chance but, with a sizzling backhand down the line winner, set up another opportunity.

On her third match point, Williams finally sealed victory after an exhausting 22-shot rally with a potent down the line forehand winner. Raising her fist in triumph, Williams celebrated the 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory putting her into the quarterfinals.

"The further the match went, the crazier the rallies went." Williams said after the three set battle. "Just to be able to last that long is a real blessing."

Williams will next play Carla Suarez Navarro who upset Maria Sharapova earlier.

Serena and Vandeweghe Move into Final Eight

Top seed and defending champion Serena Williams continued her march to perhaps another title in Canada.

Williams faced off against No. 15 seed Lucie Safarova in their third round match earlier. Williams broke Safarova in the last games of each the first and second sets sealing a 7-5, 6-4 win.

She will now play against her friend Caroline Wozniacki. The No. 11 seed easily dismissed American qualifier Shelby Rogers 6-1, 6-0.

Another American enjoying a good run in Montreal is Coco Vandeweghe. Fresh off her three set win over Ana Ivanovic, Vandeweghe took on another top 10 Serbian in Jelena Jankovic.

Though both women split the first two sets, Vandeweghe prevailed to claim the 7-6(8), 2-6, 7-5 win.